340
Counsels on Diet and Foods
consumption or fall under the power of apoplexy from this cause alone.
Some suffer from dyspepsia. Every vital function is deadened and
the physicians tell them that they have liver complaint, when if they
would break open the cider barrel, and never replace it, their abused
life forces would recover their vigor.
Cider drinking leads to the use of stronger drinks. The stomach
loses its natural vigor, and something stronger is needed to arouse it to
action.... We see the power that appetite for strong drink has over men;
we see how many of all professions and of heavy responsibilities—
men of exalted station, of eminent talents, of great attainments, of fine
feelings, of strong nerves, and of good reasoning powers—sacrifice
everything for the indulgence of appetite, until they are reduced to
the level of the brutes; and in very many cases their downward course
commenced with the use of wine or cider.
Our Example to be on the Side of Reform
When intelligent men and women who are professedly Christians,
plead that there is no harm in making wine or cider for the market,
because when unfermented it will not intoxicate, I feel sad at heart. I
know there is another side to this subject that they refuse to look upon;
for selfishness has closed their eyes to the terrible evils that may result
from the use of these stimulants....
[435]
As a people, we profess to be reformers, to be light bearers in the
world, to be faithful sentinels for God, guarding every avenue whereby
Satan could come in with his temptations to pervert the appetite. Our
example and influence must be a power on the side of reform. We must
abstain from any practice which will blunt the conscience or encourage
temptation. We must open no door that will give Satan access to the
mind of one human being formed in the image of God. If all would
be vigilant and faithful in guarding the little openings made by the
moderate use of the so-called harmless wine and cider, the highway to
drunkenness would be closed up. What is needed in every community
is firm purpose, and a will to touch not, taste not, handle not; then the
temperance reformation will be strong, permanent, and thorough....
The world’s Redeemer, who knows well the state of society in the
last days, represents eating and drinking as the sins that condemn this
age. He tells us that as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when